Silver Story bags TC’s 2nd jewel

In a virtual repeat of his romp in the kickoff leg of the Triple Crown series, Silver Story ruled the JV Ongpin Cup in a runaway fashion at San Lazaro, outclassing the very same field he dominated last month and finally lining himself up for a crack at racing greatness.

"Sobrang swerte," said jockey Jonathan Hernandez, after steering Silver Story to a 10-length victory over Sky Hawk, the very horse he beat in the Cojuangco Cup at Sta. Ana.

But many believed the talented grey colt doesn’t need luck to complete a rare sweep of local racing’s version of the Triple Crown as Silver Story once again proved that he’s a cut above the rest among the country’s three-year-old chargers.

Making the most of the No. 2 post, Silver Story broke out in the middle of the 11-horse field with Hernandez biding his time in seventh position and letting the speedsters dictate the tempo of the punishing 1,900-meter race.

"Maganda ang lundag at pinuwesto ko lang. Nung natabihan umangat lang ako ng konti," said Hernandez.

Truly, from the first bend, Silver Story ran three-four wide but nevertheless overtook horses in front with relative ease, surging past Kitty Hawk at the backstretch and leaving behind his rivals to fight for the crumbs of a second place finish.

He had a 2:01 clocking over the softened track, the same time posted by the very horse which last swept the Triple Crown series – Real Top – also in the JV Ongpin Cup in 1998. Silver Story had quartertimes of 17-23-26'-26-28'.

The victory was worth another P1 million for owner Patrick Uy, who is expected to join the elite list of Triple Crown winners next month when the third and final leg, the Horseman’s Cup, is staged on July 8, also at San Lazaro. — R. Romualdez